Micah with Auntie Shelley.
Maria with Caleb
Visual proof for Eva that indeed she needed to clean out her nostril. Who needs a mirror when you have a digital camera with macro setting?
-
Showing posts with label Labour Support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Labour Support. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Study Shows Benefits of Professional Labour Support
A new study concluded that:
For middle-class women laboring with the support of their male partner, the continuous presence of a doula during labor significantly decreased the likelihood of cesarean delivery and reduced the need for epidural analgesia. Women and their male partners were unequivocal in their positive opinions about laboring with the support of a doula.
You can read the abstract here.
What is a doula? The Canadian Doula Association defines a labour or birth doula as "a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman during labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period."
The study results are no surprise to me. In particular with a first baby there are often so many unknowns that it can be overwhelming and scary. Fear causes tension, and tension causes pain. A doula can re-focus you, reassure you, cheer you on, suggest techniques to improve your comfort, help you to relax, advocate for you. She will take care of the practical things like getting you water or juice, keeping your gown closed, wiping your brow when you're sweaty, and covering you up when you're cold. You have a relationship with her and you won't lose her to a shift change. She is there from beginning to end. She is still there when your husband needs to step away to go to the bathroom or get a bite to eat, and you are never alone, or alone with a stranger.
Both my births were attended by a midwife who was also there from beginning to end. For Eva's birth I had a doula as well, and for Micah's birth my Mom took on the doula role. And Andrew was with me all the way through. I felt particularly well supported!!! I was not distracted from my work by worries like being left alone, feeling cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, or exposed. I felt confident and comfortable asking for help in the form of back rubs, counterpressure, someone to hold my hand, someone to help me into the shower, or to help me change position. I wasn't worried about or distracted by hospital staff I didn't know wanting to perform interventions or procedures. And if that had happened I know that my support team would have stepped in on my behalf. My only focus was my labour and my baby, and I had two beautiful births which each left me feeling on top of the world!
For middle-class women laboring with the support of their male partner, the continuous presence of a doula during labor significantly decreased the likelihood of cesarean delivery and reduced the need for epidural analgesia. Women and their male partners were unequivocal in their positive opinions about laboring with the support of a doula.
You can read the abstract here.
What is a doula? The Canadian Doula Association defines a labour or birth doula as "a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman during labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period."
The study results are no surprise to me. In particular with a first baby there are often so many unknowns that it can be overwhelming and scary. Fear causes tension, and tension causes pain. A doula can re-focus you, reassure you, cheer you on, suggest techniques to improve your comfort, help you to relax, advocate for you. She will take care of the practical things like getting you water or juice, keeping your gown closed, wiping your brow when you're sweaty, and covering you up when you're cold. You have a relationship with her and you won't lose her to a shift change. She is there from beginning to end. She is still there when your husband needs to step away to go to the bathroom or get a bite to eat, and you are never alone, or alone with a stranger.
Both my births were attended by a midwife who was also there from beginning to end. For Eva's birth I had a doula as well, and for Micah's birth my Mom took on the doula role. And Andrew was with me all the way through. I felt particularly well supported!!! I was not distracted from my work by worries like being left alone, feeling cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, or exposed. I felt confident and comfortable asking for help in the form of back rubs, counterpressure, someone to hold my hand, someone to help me into the shower, or to help me change position. I wasn't worried about or distracted by hospital staff I didn't know wanting to perform interventions or procedures. And if that had happened I know that my support team would have stepped in on my behalf. My only focus was my labour and my baby, and I had two beautiful births which each left me feeling on top of the world!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
